Message from 2011-2012 President Doug Clark:

Dear Grosse Pointe Theatre Family and Friends,

I hope you are all enjoying a fun and family filled summer and maybe a little bit of well-deserved downtime after a successful and very busy 63^rd season.  Not only were we blessed with five wonderful main stage productions but also with Purdon Studio Theater, Youth on Stage and our community outreach efforts such as Talking Headstones.  Across the board, we were able to present artistic excellence and we should all be very proud.

So… What’s next?  (I am glad you asked!)  Even now we are headlong into the process of getting our 64^th season up and running.  I am so excited about the shows that we have selected.  I believe that this will be a season that our patrons, our members and our community at large can and will get excited about. The Music Man has been cast and rehearsals began on July 11^th. The scene shop is already buzzing as the The Music Man set comes to life. Your new board had its first meeting and we are working to keep the ball rolling as we begin the process of implementing the  strategic plan that has been painstakingly crafted throughout the last year. Through the efforts of over 40 of your fellow GPT members, we have developed what we believe to be great working document that clearly defines what we, as an organization, need to do to continue to elevate our success; not only artistically but on the business side as well.

Marcia Scavarda has completed her first year with us and through her efforts and those of so many of our committed members we have made significant strides to bring an elevated professionalism to the front office side of our organization.  In order to be eligible for many of the available grants and other endowments we must bring our business persona on par with the artistic excellence that we already enjoy. Suffice to say we have a full slate of activity in store for us this year.  There will be a lot of work as well as a lot of fun and through it all please remember, we do this “All for the Love of Theater”.

See you around the house!

Doug

Dixie Swim Club is entering the final weekend.  Have you made plans to see it?  Get your tickets before it’s too late by calling the Box Office at 313-881-4004.  You won’t want to miss it.

3-4-11

Dixie Swim Club Producer Carolyn Darby invites you to attend the free dress rehearsal this Friday, March 4th at 8 PM.  “The cast is doing a terrific job and would welcome a live audience to practice their timing – waiting for the laughs – this show has plenty of them!”

Dixie Swim Club opens on Sunday, March 6th and continues March 10th – 13th and 16th to 19th.  Get your tickets by calling the Box Office at 313-881-4004.

Membership Meeting
Be sure to mark Monday March 14th on your calendar for the latest update on the Strategic Planning Committee’s work.  The membership meeting will be held at 315 Fisher Road at 7:00 p.m.   Plan on attending to learn how the process is proceeding, receive answers to your questions and learn how you can assist in the process.

Scarlet Pimpernel
Producer Jon Lechner is looking for lots of help with getting Scarlet Pimpernel up and running.  The spring musical is always a huge undertaking – many hands are needed.

* The Scene Shop needs help on Tuesday evenings and on Saturday during the day.
* The Scene Shop needs cooks for Saturday lunches
* The Costume Room needs help on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 to 3

Contact Jon Lechner at thekid57@aol.com for more information on how you can help.

Election News
Be sure to return your Slate Ballot to the Secretary, Marianne Casey, by Saturday March 5th.   The 2011/2012 Board is looking for ratification of the six additional chairs.

Youth on Stage
Those hardworking kids of Youth on Stage will be presenting Annie on April 9th and 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Fries Auditorium of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.  Make plans to get your tickets and support the kids of GPT!

Library News
After many years of dedicated service, one half of our Library staff, Mary McLeod, has resigned her post.  A heartfelt thank-you to Mary for all she has done to organize and keep track of the many plays and musicals that we own.  If you would like to volunteer to be Mary’s replacement, please contact Marianne Casey at mtcasey618@aol.com

Member News
Word is that Gwenn Samuel is finally on the way home after surgery, complications after surgery, rehab, a second return to the hospital and finally a trip back to rehab that stuck.  Be Well Gwenn!

Casting Call
Kathy Smith of the St. Clair Shores Players is helping to cast their spring production of “Our Town”.  Rehearsals will be held on Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 – 9:30PM at The Good Shepherd United Methodist Church located at 31601 Harper Avenue St Clair Shores, MI 48082-1403.  Parts still looking for actors are:

George Gibbs – The nice young man who falls in love with Emily Webb. Age range 18-23.
Mr. Webb – Emily’s father, the editor of the Grover’s Corners Sentinel, the local newspaper. Age range 40-50
Constable Warren – A local policeman. Age range 40+
Sam Craig – Emily’s cousin who comes to town for her funeral. Age range
25-35+
For more information, contact Kathy at kat081969@gmail.com.

2-25-11
Purdon Studio Theatre
Have you seen The Exonerated at the Eleanor and Edsel Ford House? This weekend is your last chance to catch this riveting story of six death row inmates who were later proven to be innocent.  Visit www.gpt.org for more details or call the Box Office (313-881-4004) for tickets. Show dates are February 25-26 at 8:00 PM and February 27 at 2:00 PM.

Dixie Swim Club
This Saturday, February 26th is set up for Dixie Swim Club.  Come to Fries Auditorium to lend a hand.  As always, lunch will be served to the hard workers.  The show opens on Sunday, March 6th.  Be sure to call the box office today to reserve your tickets.

Special Membership Meeting
You asked and the Board listened!  Due to overwhelming interest, a special meeting to discuss the progress of the Strategic Plan will be held on Monday March 14th at 7:00 PM in the rehearsal hall at Fisher Road.  Please make time to attend this important meeting about the future direction of Grosse Pointe Theatre.

Celebrate World Voice Day.  You are invited to celebrate the human voice with a special concert led by Adam Rubin, MD and Cristina Jackson Menaldi, PhD on Thursday April 21, 2011 6:30 – 8:30  at The Baldwin Theater, 415 Lafayette Royal Oak 48067.  “Raise awareness of your vocal health while you enjoy wonderful performances of popular musical theater, opera, gospel and rock and roll.”  Chris Kaiser has a block of 15 reservations for GPT.  If you’d like one of the reservations, contact Chris at ckaiser113@comcast.net.  Additional reservations can be requested at 1-866-501-DOCS or email  healthconnect@stjohn.org

2-18-11
Purdon Studio Theatre
It’s opening weekend forThe Exonerated at the Eleanor and Edsel Ford House. This riveting story of six incarcerated citizens who were later proven to be innocent will captivate you from beginning to end. Visit www.gpt.org for more details or call the Box Office (313-881-4004) for tickets. Show dates are: February 18-20 and 25-27; Fridays and Saturdays are at 8:00 PM, Sundays at 2:00 PM.

Dixie Swim Club
Mark your calendars!  Next Saturday, February 26th is set up for Dixie Swim Club.  Come to Fries Auditorium Saturday morning to help set up the set.  Lunch will be served.

Directors Chosen
The final directors and shows for the 2011-2012 have been selected:

Don Bischoff, The Music Man
Ron Bernas, The Trip to Bountiful
Mike Trudel, Moonlight and Magnolias

Don, Ron and Mike join Bev Dickinson (Jekyll and Hyde) and Tim Higgins (Hairspray) to direct our next blockbuster season.  Contact any one of the directors to volunteer for what promises to be a real audience pleasing season.

Election News
The elected members of the 2011/2012 Board have met and chosen a slate of candidates to fill the remaining six board positions. The candidates are:
Ticket Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . Arlene Schoenherr
Technical Chair. . . . . . . . .  Eric Leszczynski
Social Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Caralis
Production Chair. . . . . . . .  Don Adzigian
House Chair. . . . . . . . . . . .  Clif Levin
Public Relations Chair. . . .  Barbara Bentley

Vice-President elect, Rick Hawley, will fill the Education/Workshop chair position.  Watch your mail for the slate ballot and return it to Fisher Rd by March 5, 2011

Celebrate World Voice Day.  You are invited to celebrate the human voice with a special concert led by Adam Rubin, MD and Cristina Jackson Menaldi, PhD (my doctors) on Thursday April 21, 2011 6:30 – 8:30  at The Baldwin Theater, 415 Lafayette Royal Oak 48067.  “Raise awareness of your vocal health while you enjoy wonderful performances of popular musical theater, opera, gospel and rock and roll.”  I have a block of 15 reservations for GPT.  If you’d like one of the reservations, contact me.  Additional reservations can be requested at 1-866-501-DOCS or email   healthconnect@stjohn.org or Chris Kaiser  ckaiser113@comcast.net

Main Stage Next Season

Musicals:

Music Man – Con man Harold hill travels to the small town of River City, Iowa to earn his fortune. He decides to convince the town that they need a boys’ band and then plans to run away once the boys have paid for instruments and uniforms. He even claims to be a professor of music. His scheme is moving along perfectly until Harold falls in love with the town piano teacher, Marian. Even though she knows that he’s a con man, she still loves him for the hope that he brought to the town. Harold, on the other hand, is inspired by Marian’s goodness, reveals his secrets to the town and becomes an honest man.

Jekyll and Hyde – Concerns a brilliant doctor whose experiments with human personality create a murderous counterpart. Convinced the cure for his father’s mental illness lies in the separation of Man’s evil nature from his good, Dr. Henry Jekyll unwittingly unleashed his own dark side, wreaking havoc in the streets of late 19-century London as the savage, maniacal Edward Hyde. He manages to kill scores of people without getting caught. Finally as Jekyll is about to marry his lover, Emma, he turns into Hyde and kills a wedding guest. In the end, Hyde/Jekyll begs his friend Utterson to kill him. Utterson holds a blade to Hyde/Jekyll’s heart but cannot harm his friend. However, Hyde/Jekyll falls forward onto the sword, committing suicide.

Hairspray – Tracy Turnblad, a large girl with big hair and a kind heart, has only one passion–to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show” and is quickly transformed into a teen celebrity. She then successfully sets out to vanquish the program’s reigning princess, win the heart of the super handsome Link Larkin, and racially integrate the television show.
Jekyll and Hyde – Concerns a brilliant doctor whose experiments with human personality create a murderous counterpart. Convinced the cure for his father’s mental illness lies in the separation of Man’s evil nature from his good, Dr. Henry Jekyll unwittingly unleashed his own dark side, wreaking havoc in the streets of late 19-century London as the savage, maniacal Edward Hyde. He manages to kill scores of people without getting caught. Finally as Jekyll is about to marry his lover, Emma, he turns into Hyde and kills a wedding guest. In the end, Hyde/Jekyll begs his friend Utterson to kill him. Utterson holds a blade to Hyde/Jekyll’s heart but cannot harm his friend. However, Hyde/Jekyll falls forward onto the sword, committing suicide.

Straight Shows:

Moonlight and Magnolias – Legendary film producer David O. Selznick is five weeks into shooting Gone With the Wind when he realizes the script is awful and the director doesn’t have a clue. He has five days to replace them and restart the shoot or the production shuts down. Selznick calls Victor Fleming from the set of The Wizard to Oz to direct, and he taps legendary playwright, screenwriter and “script doctor” Ben Hecht to rewrite the script. There’s only one problem – Hecht hasn’t read the book. Over the course of five madcap days, the three men, assisted by Selznick’s assistant, Miss Poppenghul, frantically craft one of the most beloved screenplays of all time, as Selznick and Fleming act out the book for Hecht and the phone rings off the hook with calls from the likes of Vivien Leigh, Louis B. Mayer and Ed Sullivan. The play is written as farce, but the characters also deal with serious questions about race and the tenuous power of Jewish executives in Hollywood.

The Trip to Bountiful – Set in the 1940s, the story tells of an elderly woman, Carrie Watts, who wants to return home to the small town where she grew up, but is frequently stopped from leaving Houston by her daughter-in-law and an overprotective son who won’t let her travel alone. Old Mrs. Watts is determined to outwit her son and bossy daughter-in-law, and sets out to catch a train, only to find that trains don’t go to Bountiful anymore. She eventually boards a bus to a town near her childhood home. On the journey, she befriends a girl traveling alone and reminisces about her younger years and grieves for her lost relatives. Her son and daughter-in-law eventually track her down, with the help of the local police force. However, Mrs. Watts is determined. The local sheriff, moved by her yearning to visit her girlhood home, offers to drive her out to what remains of Bountiful. The village is deserted, and the few remaining houses are derelict. Mrs. Watts is moved to tears as she surveys her father’s land and the remains of the family home. Her son eventually turns up, and drives her back to Houston.